Eyewitnesses spot Nelson man wielding knife

A Nelson man who brandished a knife in the street when drunk has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Burnley Crown Court heard Paul Greaves (23), of Brunswick Street, had the knife in his hand when he was shouting “I’m going to knife him” around 6am on June 8th.

Miss Emma Kehoe (prosecuting) said Greaves was stopped by police in Marsden Hall Road and arrested after shouting and swearing. He did not have a knife on him at that point and said he had been assaulted earlier in the night.

Greaves said he could not remember having the knife. It was only when two eyewitness accounts were read to him that he confessed he must have had possession of what was described as a 7in. blade.

In a search of Greaves’s home, police also discovered 10 snap bags of cannabis. Greaves had pleaded guilty to the offences at a hearing in October.

Mr William Staunton (defending) said Greaves is in work and has a supportive family. He said Greaves had “not touched a drop” of alcohol since the offences and his family “had seen a great change in him”.

Mr Staunton added the proceedings had caught him “staring into the headlights”.

Recorder Andrew Long said the offence would normally have meant a custodial sentence but this had been “out of character” adding that although the threats were to “persons’ unknown” they had alarmed people in the area.

Recorder Long gave Greaves a 26-week sentence, suspended for 12 months and also ordered Greaves to complete 180 hours unpaid work, pay £450 costs and an £80 surcharge.

Recorder Long told Greaves: “This is an opportunity for you. Please take it.”